footing
/ˈfʊtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈʊtɪŋ] /ˈfʊtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [fˈʊtɪŋ] /ˈfu̇-tiŋ How to pronounce footing (audio)/ (ame, mw)
footing — noun
1. the ability to keep your feet steady on a surface, especially one that is steep,
the ability to keep your feet steady on a surface, especially one that is steep, slippery, or uneven
Wei struggled to keep his footing on the steep muddy bank after the storm.
keep + possessive + footing
Mei-Lin checked her footing before stepping onto the icy pavement outside her flat.
Loose gravel made it hard for Diego to find secure footing on the mountain trail.
The old stone steps were so worn that Grace lost her footing and grabbed the rail.
Omar's boots slipped twice on the wet cobblestones before he could regain his footing.
文法句型
lose + possessive + footing
keep + possessive + footing
find + possessive + footing
用法筆記
The verbs 'lose', 'keep', and 'find' are the three most common partners for this sense. 'Lose your footing' means you slip or stumble; 'keep your footing' means you stay upright.
常見錯誤
2. the basic conditions that support a group, project, or relationship — for exampl
the basic conditions that support a group, project, or relationship — for example, having enough money behind an organisation, or a clear legal right to act
Dr. Okonkwo's research centre opened on a solid financial footing thanks to a five-year government grant.
on a + adjective + footing
After the sudden merger, Hana's printing business took six months to get back on a stable footing.
Nadia wanted to understand the legal footing for the council's planning decision.
Rosa and Ibrahim's working relationship began on a footing of mutual respect and honesty.
Kwame insisted the new rule had no footing in the organisation's own constitution.
- basis
more neutral and common; 'footing' adds a sense of stability or security
- foundation
often more permanent and structural than 'footing'
- ground
used in similar phrases like 'on solid ground'; less formal than 'footing'
文法句型
on a + adjective + footing
a + adjective + footing + for
用法筆記
Common adjectives with this sense include 'solid', 'firm', 'stable', 'sound', 'legal', and 'financial'. Distinguish from sense 3: here the focus is the basis for operating, not the comparative status.
常見錯誤
3. the position a person or group holds in relation to others, always used in the p
the position a person or group holds in relation to others, always used in the pattern 'on a … footing' — such as equal footing, firm footing, or friendly footing
When the teachers' union sat down with the education board, both sides were on an equal footing for the first time.
on an equal footing
At budget meetings, Tariq's proposals were never given equal footing with those of senior managers.
The new law puts small businesses on the same footing as large corporations for tax.
Leila joined the small architecture firm on an equal footing with the two founders who had run it for over a decade.
Elena pushed the hospital board to put part-time nurses on an equal footing with senior doctors for voting rights.
文法句型
on an equal footing (with)
on the same footing (as)
put + someone + on an equal footing
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'on an equal footing' or 'on the same footing'. The word before 'footing' names the kind of relationship (equal, firm, friendly). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 is about comparing the standing of individuals and groups, not about the basis for operating.
常見錯誤
4. a state of readiness in which a country organises its armed forces and resources
a state of readiness in which a country organises its armed forces and resources for possible armed conflict
The government placed the navy on a war footing within hours of the border clash.
on a war footing
The northern steel mill switched to a war footing and began producing tank parts.
Ravi's grandfather remembered the day India moved to a war footing in 1971.
The air base remained on a war footing for the entire six weeks of the crisis.
- readiness
broader term; not restricted to military contexts
- mobilisation
refers to the act of assembling forces, while 'war footing' describes the ongoing state
- peacetime footing
the normal, non-emergency state of a country's armed forces
文法句型
on a war footing
put + on a war footing
move to a war footing
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the phrase 'on a war footing'. Can occasionally be extended metaphorically to describe any emergency mobilisation of resources (e.g. 'on a crisis footing').
5. how the ground surface of a sports field, race track, or path feels underfoot, a
how the ground surface of a sports field, race track, or path feels underfoot, and how easy or hard it is to run or walk across it
Heavy overnight rain left the racecourse with very soft footing for the afternoon meet.
soft footing (track condition)
The footing on the rugby pitch was dangerously uneven after three matches in heavy rain.
Long-distance runners complained that the footing on the cross-country path was dangerously slick.
Ground staff worked through the night to improve the footing before the tournament semi-finals.
文法句型
footing + is/was + adjective
good/soft/firm + footing
用法筆記
Used mainly in horse racing, athletics, and field sports. Common adjectives are 'good', 'soft', 'firm', 'heavy', and 'fast'. British English sometimes uses 'going' as a near-synonym in horse-racing contexts.